Police, forest guards rescue two kidnapped victims in Bauchi

The Bauchi State Police Command has rescued two kidnapped victims during a joint security operation in Gwamnare Forest, Ningi Local Government Area of the state.

The command said the operation was carried out by a combined team of the Violent Crime Response Unit, Anti-Kidnapping Unit, the Divisional Police Officer in Ningi and Forestry Guards, following the directive of the Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, to intensify operations in areas witnessing a surge in kidnapping.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Nafiu Abubakar, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday.

According to the statement, the commissioner had directed tactical teams to relocate to communities recently affected by kidnapping to ensure the safe rescue of victims and the arrest of suspects.

Habib said, “In compliance with the commissioner’s directive, operatives of the command have successfully rescued two kidnap victims during a joint security operation conducted in Gwamnare Forest, Ningi Local Government Area.

“Situation report received at Ningi Division on July 1, 2026, at about 10:00hrs, a combined team of the Violent Crime Response Unit, Anti-Kidnapping Unit led by their respective commanders, the DPO Ningi and team, and the Commander of Forestry Guards deployed by the Commissioner of Police, moved into operation through the Rafin Chiyawa axis to Gwamnare in Ningi Local Government.”

He explained that the operation was launched in response to persistent kidnapping incidents in Dogon Ruwa and Rafin Chiyawa villages located around Gwamnare Forest.

“During the operation, the team successfully rescued two victims, Alhaji Yahaya, male, 50 years old, of Masallachi Hamlet, Dogon Ruwa Village, and Alhaji Kabiru, male, of Gwamnare Forest.

“No casualty or loss of life was recorded during the operation,” the statement added.

The police spokesperson noted that efforts were ongoing to rescue other victims believed to be in captivity.

He added that the Commissioner of Police commended the bravery and professionalism displayed by the joint security team and reassured residents of Dogon Ruwa, Rafin Chiyawa and surrounding communities of the Command’s commitment to flushing criminal elements out of forests across the state.